Goldman CEO says 2026 will be a big year for dealmaking

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said the bank has moved out of a defensive stance after several difficult years marked by weak private-equity activity and volatile trading. After a strong 2025, he said Goldman enters 2026 with the wind at its back. Solomon pointed to a shift in Washington toward deregulation that has changed the mood on corporate deals, moving the answer to many questions from a flat no to a maybe.

He suggested that shift could help revive the IPO market and make 2026 a top-decile year for mergers and acquisitions. Pressure on private-equity sponsors is another factor. Many sponsors held assets longer than investors wanted, and mounting demands from limited partners, alongside a boom in secondaries and continuation vehicles, are forcing firms to unlock capital and return to the market.

Solomon also cited heavy investment in AI, noting mega-tech names have tapped the debt market to fund projects and that capital needs from this technology cycle will accelerate activity.

United States, Washington

goldman sachs, david solomon, 2026, dealmaking, m&a, ipo market, private equity, secondaries, deregulation, ai investment